Everybody wants to pass exams and do well in school, but not everyone knows how to study the right way. Sometimes, the problem is not that the person is lazy. It’s just that their study method is not helping them. Studying hard is good, but studying smart is better.

This post will break down five study habits that truly work. If you can add them to your daily routine, your reading life will improve and you’ll start to see better results.

1. Study in Short Focused Sessions

One common mistake students make is trying to read for 3 to 5 hours straight. The truth is, your brain can’t stay focused for that long without getting tired. After the first 30 to 45 minutes, your focus will drop and you’ll just be looking at words without really learning anything.

Try this instead:
Use the Pomodoro technique. Study for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break. After four sessions like this, take a longer 15 to 30-minute break. This method helps your brain stay fresh and prevents burnout. You’ll cover more and remember more.

Example:
If you want to study Economics, break it down into small parts. For the first 25 minutes, read the topic “Demand and Supply.” After your short break, use the next session to do practice questions.

2. Set Clear Study Goals Every Day

Don’t just say “I want to study today.” That’s too general and it makes it easy to waste time. Instead, set clear and simple goals like:

• “I want to finish chapter 3 of Business Management.”

• “I want to solve 5 math questions on statistics.”

• “I want to revise all my lecture notes for this week.”

Why it works:
Goals give you direction. They help you stay on track and avoid distractions. When you finish the goal, you feel motivated to keep going.

Tip:
Write your study goals in a small notebook or use the notes app on your phone. Tick them off when you’re done. It feels good.

3. Stay Away from Distractions

You might think you’re multitasking when you’re chatting or scrolling TikTok while reading, but your brain can’t handle two things well at the same time. Every notification breaks your focus and it takes time to get it back.

What you should do:
Before you start reading, put your phone on silent or airplane mode. If possible, keep it far from you. Also, avoid reading where there’s loud noise or too many people moving around.

Create a clean, quiet space.
Even if it’s just a small table in your room or a corner of the house, make it your reading zone. Over time, your brain will connect that space with focus and learning.

4. Teach What You Learn

This one is powerful. After studying a topic, try to explain it out loud like you’re teaching a class or a friend. You’ll quickly find out if you really understand the topic or not.

Why this works:
Teaching forces you to think clearly. It helps you connect different ideas and notice what you missed. You don’t need a big audience. Just explain it to your sibling, friend or even to your mirror.

Bonus tip:
You can record yourself explaining the topic and play it later. You’ll catch mistakes and also refresh the knowledge in your mind.

5. Sleep Well and Rest Your Brain

Many students think sleeping less means they are more serious. But that’s not true. Your brain needs rest to work well. If you don’t sleep enough, your memory becomes weak, your mood drops and your focus disappears.

What to do instead:
Try to get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Don’t read all night before an exam. That kind of cramming usually doesn’t last in your brain. It’s better to revise little by little every day and then rest well.

Rest is part of the process. Don’t feel guilty about it.